What Is Maximalism​? A Guide To The Maximalist Aesthetic

Maximalism​ is an aesthetic, but it’s also a philosophy and a concept that simply means "excess." When you think of maximalism​, think of bright colors, varied prints and a pleasant assault on the senses. Understanding what maximalism​ is and how to achieve it in your designs is not as simple as flipping through a book. This article explores the many specific examples of maximalism. You’ll learn how to incorporate the aesthetic into your outfits, decor and interior design. 

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• What Is The Concept Of Maximalism & The Maximalism Style?
• Maximalist Decor​ Examples
• Maximalist Outfit​ Examples
• Maximalist Interior Design​ Examples
• Maximalism FAQs

What Is The Concept Of Maximalism & The Maximalism Style?

Maximalism is an idea that describes architecture, interior design, clothing, and more, defined by a commitment to excess. Think of Baroque architecture and the clothing represented in artworks like Caravaggio paintings or Rembrandt paintings. Or consider an outfit made entirely of mixed, bright textiles. Maximalism is the idea that "more is more," in stark contrast to minimalist approaches like Japandi style or Scandinavian interior design.

The maximalist style is the art of everything: intricate details, rich colors and mixed media. However, embracing the style doesn’t require owning an overwhelming amount of things. It’s less about quantity and more about how individual pieces interact and play off one another.

Maximalist Decor​ Examples

In homes, offices, hotels and churches, maximalist decor is bringing bright, exciting movement to spaces. 

1. Patterned Tile

Simply having patterned tile is not necessarily maximalist. Think, for example, of a simple subway tile design or the classic checkerboard floors. These simple patterns are not necessarily minimalist, as they don't meet the maximalist requirements. 

Instead, consider the azulejo in Portugal. These brightly colored blue-and-white tiles cover entire buildings with intricate murals and designs. They are adaptable, unignorable and inherently maximalist. 

2. Excess Drapery

This example of maximalist decor is a refined way to introduce bulk and depth into a space. Velvets and heavy linens are popular fabrics, and the key is to layer drapery. The best effect is achieved with floor-to-ceiling coverage. Just be careful with your color choices. The last thing you want is to choose green velvet and pink silk and find yourself in the middle of an unintentional Christmas aesthetic.

3. Large Gallery Wall

You’ve probably seen hundreds of DIY home decor projects showing you how to achieve a gallery wall without realizing it’s a cornerstone of maximalist design. A maximalist gallery wall doesn’t aim for symmetry. Instead, it fills space with frames that vary in size and material. 

You can (and should) mix the art/photos with mirrors, objects, textiles and found pieces. The wall becomes a collection rather than a display. Overlapping frames, tight spacing, and floor-to-ceiling coverage push the arrangement into visual storytelling.

4. Books Everywhere

This is one of the easiest ways to achieve a maximalist aesthetic. Simply take your books off the bookshelf and start stacking them. Stack them on side tables, coffee tables, the floor and alongside other decor pieces. For example, a color-drenched wall could be a great backdrop for a stack of books with a similar color scheme on their spines. 

5. Layered Rugs

This is such a classic minimalist decor hack. One of the best home decor gifts is a small, thin, patterned rug that’s ideal for layering. This is because layered rugs add instant dimension and visual weight to a space. 

For example, a neutral base rug anchors the space, while a smaller patterned rug sits on top to introduce contrast and movement. Maximalist rug layering ignores traditional matching rules. Mixing textures and pile height is perfectly acceptable and reinforces the sense of abundance, making the floor an active design element rather than a background player. 

6. Color Drenching

Color drenching is the practice of committing fully to a single color across an entire space. So, walls, trim, ceilings, furniture, and even decor objects are all painted the exact same shade. What makes this approach maximalist is the refusal to "break" the color for relief. Instead of contrast, interest is created through finish, texture, and saturation. Matte walls may be paired with glossy trim and velvet upholstery.  Painted ceilings are the real trick here. They transform one color into a layered visual experience rather than a flat backdrop.

7. Repeat Colors (In Each Room)

Maximalism doesn't necessarily focus on cohesion. Visual patterns aren't important, and decor pieces don't need to match to work well in this aesthetic. So, when we recommend repeating colors in each room, it may seem to go against maximalist standards. In reality, repetition, especially with a bright or arresting color, can fit well into maximalist decor. 

A color might appear in a lamp, echo in a painting, repeat in a rug and reappear in upholstery from room to room. This repetition allows even the most crowded rooms to feel intentional rather than chaotic.

Maximalist Outfit​ Examples

Maximalist outfits are a style that captures your imagination. They are loud, excessive and cannot be ignored. These are the staples that make an outfit truly maximalist. 

8. Oversized Silhouettes

The oversized look is achieved with clothes that still fit but defy the standard tailored look. Items like barrel jeans, ponchos, and bulky baby-doll dresses all fit this aesthetic. The clothing shouldn’t look like it doesn’t fit. It should be designed for your body size but have a visual weight and heft. 

9. Texture-on-Texture Layering

Some maximalist outfits thrive on tactile contrast. Think chunky knits layered over silk, leather paired with lace, sequins worn against denim or velvet styled with wool. These layers of texture create depth you can literally feel. The goal is to stack textures until the outfit feels rich and dimensional, rather than streamlined.

This is where having multiple pieces on hand can really help. Switch out different items until you reach a textured outfit that feels cohesive and loud at the same time. 

10. Mixed Patterns 

Mixed patterns can be hard to achieve with a maximalist outfit. The trick is to pair the right kinds of patterns. For example, a small pattern in the pants combined with a large pattern in the top. Mixing patterns may require a few trial-and-error shopping trips before it’s both maximalist without being overwhelming.  

11. Monochromatic Color Scheme

This is like color drenching, but in an outfit. A monochromatic maximalist outfit commits fully to one color while layering shades, textures, silhouettes, and materials. Different tones of the same color add depth without introducing visual rest. The effect is bold and confident rather than minimal or subdued.

12. Layered Jewelry 

Layering jewelry in a maximalist manner requires more than stacking a few necklaces on top of each other. The goal is excess in jewelry alongside an excess in clothing. This means that your jewelry may contrast with your clothes or even serve as a substitute for wearing clothes. For example, a chain top is a great way to wear layered jewelry in a maximalist manner. 

There are other options, too. Wear rings that cover several fingers, bracelets layered up the wrist to the elbow, and chunky, unique earrings. Mixing metals and styles adds richness, as well. 

13. Extra Chunky Sweater

There is absolutely nothing simple about an extra chunky sweater, but it needs to be big and bold. Heavy knits add texture and visual weight, especially when paired with bold colors or patterned bottoms. When draped, the sweater contributes to the sense of comfort and expressive volume that defines maximalist style. In fact, throwing a large chunky sweater over an existing maximalist outfit is a great way to add dimension. 

Maximalist Interior Design​ Examples

Maximalist interior design styles continue to capture the attention of homeowners and designers everywhere. These are some examples you can draw on in your own space. 

14. Sculptures as Furniture

The best interior design ideas for the home come from your own imagination, but there are plenty of modern interior designers whose creations can get you started. For example, Aquilo Interiors is known for its well-cultivated maximalist designs that take the standard pieces you need in a home (chairs, coat racks, coffee tables) and reinvent them into art pieces. Rest your feet on a dragon coffee table and hang your hat on a large giraffe coat rack. The options are endless. 

15. Maximalism Art

Maximalism is not technically a type of art movement, but it can be used to describe various pieces and artist styles. Picasso paintings, with their Cubist themes, layer fractured forms, and Yayoi Kusama, with her bright, abrasive sculptures and multi-reflective installations, are both great examples. 

Getting a piece from one of these artists for your own interior design may be a little difficult, but it's definitely possible to source pieces inspired by famous maximalist art. Look for pieces that are patternless. The pieces don't necessarily have to use bright colors; they can use colors in new and arresting ways. Additionally, maximalist art can be expressed through lighting pieces. Think outside the box: a bright fuchsia chandelier next to a lamp shaped like a fish. 

16. Sagrada Família Interior

This famous basilica in progress was designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí. It's a great maximalist inspiration. While at home, interior design will never be able to match the grand scale of the basilica, it’s definitely possible to embody its use of color, light, and storytelling through design. For example, the columns in the basilica are designed to feel like tree trunks in a forest. What in your home or interior space could be designed as a rainforest or natural scene inspired by Biophilic Design? 

17. Wallpapered Ceilings

Grand frescoes by Michelangelo, like the one in the Sistine Chapel, aren’t replicable in your own interior design. The next best thing for the aspiring maximalist is wallpapered ceilings. Remember, in maximalist interior design, the ceiling is never an afterthought. 

Wallpapering the ceiling introduces visual density and turns an overlooked surface into a focal point. Florals, murals, metallic prints and graphic patterns overhead create immersion and drama. This approach works especially well when walls are equally bold (think a color-drenching aesthetic), reinforcing the idea that maximalism surrounds you rather than existing at eye level alone.

18. Eclectic Furniture Mixing

Maximalist interiors reject the idea that furniture must come from a single era or style. This is in direct contrast to the oh so popular Mid-Century Modern style that’s making a comeback in the 21st century. 

In maximalist interiors, a purple velvet Victorian sofa can sit comfortably next to a mid-century chair and a lacquered modern side table. What matters is contrast and conversation between these pieces. Scale and texture do the heavy lifting, not matching sets. When furniture styles intentionally collide with the overall design, the room feels collected over time rather than staged.

19. Architectural Ornamentation

Maximalist interiors celebrate ornament rather than hiding it. Moldings, arches, carved details, painted trim and decorative columns add narrative and rhythm to a space. This approach draws inspiration from historic interiors like the Palace of Versailles, where decoration is integral rather than decorative. 

In modern homes, architectural maximalism might manifest as exaggerated trim, painted moldings, or layered wall treatments that transform the structure into a narrative. Each item of ornamentation needs to be extra. Think more: more height, more width, more color. 

Maximalism FAQs

Why Does Gen Z Like Maximalism?

It’s important to understand that Generation Z, people born from around 1997 to 2012, are not all the same. This generation is made up of around 2 billion people worldwide, all with different preferences. That being said, many in this generation like maximalist art and design because it’s different from minimalism, the popular design for the previous generation, the Millennials. The word "extra" is even in Gen Z slang.

Aesthetic popularity tends to come in cycles. It’s reasonable to expect that in a generation or two, minimalism will be back in full force. 

What Is A Maximalist Person?

This is an individual who is completely dedicated to the maximalist aesthetic. They embody maximalism in their dress, their home and their mantra toward life. They are not necessarily collectors of many things, but their purchases and acquisitions all fit into the maximalist aesthetic. 

The pieces they choose and the things they love are visually loud, playing off one another in an eye-catching, arresting way without overwhelming. 

What Is The Psychology Of Maximalism?

There is no single psychology of maximalism, because people are drawn to it for many reasons. Some individuals are even accidental maximalists. They collect bright colors and textured items by happenstance and because these pieces bring them joy. 

The only consistent psychological stance on maximalism is the rejection of minimalism. The idea that "more is more" is integral to the movement and completely rejects simplicity. 

Maximalism is not about clutter or chaos. It shows up through layered decor and art-filled interiors. The maximalist aesthetic invites you to embrace what you love and let those pieces interact in dynamic ways. In a world that often pushes restraint, maximalism offers permission to choose excess on your own terms.

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